Surfacing machine



June 5, 1934. J. c. GIPE ET AL SURFAC ING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet I 11 M III Milli" IM 1| III III M Ell 1 I I HI 1| 1 ill 11 H ill H %II Hi1 m n fi June 5, 1934.

J. C. GIPE ET AL SURFACING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES SURFACING MACHINE e John C. Gipe, Joseph P. Crowley, .and John Ii.

Drake, Toledo, Ohio,

assignors to Libbeywens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 28, 1929, Serial No. 374,408.

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in surfacing machines and particularly to such machines for treating sheets or plates of material such as glass and the like.

This invention is primarily adapted for. but not necessarily limited to, use inconnection with grinding and polishing plate glass in the so-called continuous system wherein the spindles of the grinding and polishing heads or runners are driven and the glass, mounted on cars or carriers, is carried beneath the runners of a series of machines. I

An important object of the invention is the provision'of a surfacing machine embodying various novel features of construction and operation by which there is produced a machine which is of strong, sturdy and durable construction and efiicient and practical in operation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved construction for driving the grinding or polishing runner spindle and also the provision of novel means for raising and lowering the spindle and runner carried thereby relative to the work, while said spindle is still permitted to rotate.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for effecting the raising and lowering of the grinding or polishing runner relative to the glass together with means for limiting andautomatically stopping both the upward and downward movement of said runner when it reaches a predetermined position.

Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a surfacing machine, partially in section, and constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevationof a grinding runner.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a polishing runner.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the surfacing machine to illustrate the driving means and the vertical adjusting means for the runner spindle. r v

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section of the driving means for the spindle.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the upper end of the spindle housing showing the arrangement ofthe automaticstop switches carried thereby; and

Fig. 8 is an electrical wiring diagram of the substantially horizontal supporting arms 23, 24 and 25 mounted at their outer ends upon suitable vided with an internal recess 28 having a raised mechanism for limiting the upward and down ward movement of the runner spindleand automatically stopping the same. In accordance with the present invention,'the glass sheets to be surfaced are adapted to be secured upon the tops of cars or carriers 10 mounted upon wheels 11 rolling upon a trackway 12. A plurality of cars 10 are arranged in end to end abutting relation and serve to carry the glass sheets progressively first beneath and in engagement with a series'of grinding runners which may be of the type illustrated in Fig. 2 and then beneath and in engagement with a series of polishing runners such asillustra'ted in Fig. 3.

The grinding runner is designated in its eni tirety by the numeral 13 and comprises an annular metallic base plate or main casting 14 carried at the lower end ofrunner spindle 15 and upon the undersurface of which is secured a plurality of spaced grinding projections or lugs 16. The polishing runner is designated in its entirety by the numeral 17 and preferably comprises a runner frame 18 also connected to the lower end of a runner spindle l5 and carrying a plurality of individual polishing runners or'blocks 19, each polishing 'block having a vertical shaft 20 pro jecting upwardly through and freely mounted within a bearing portion21 on the runner frame. The present invention consists essentially in the provision of novel means for mounting the runner spindle 15 of the surfacing machine and for effooting the desired rotative and vertical movements thereof.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, the letter A designates in its entirely asurfacing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and carried or mounted upon a supportingframework B. The framework B consists of a hub 22 fromwhich extenda plurality of supporting columns 26 "and 27, the supporting column for arm 25 not being shown. The hub 22 of the supporting framework is hollow andis probearing portion thereof. g V

The surfacing machine A embodies a hollow 29 at substantially the center {housing 30 mounted upon the hub 22 of the sup-- porting framework and secured thereto by a plurality of bolts or other fastening elements 31; Arranged. within the housing 30 and. formed integral therewith is a cylindrical depending member or bearing portion 32. Mounted within the housing 30 isthe vertical runner spindle or drive shaft 15 on I- referred to above and this spindle extends through the bearing portion 29 and cylindrical member 32. The upper end portion of spindle 15 is preferably somewhat reduced in diameter as indicated at 15a.

Mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle and interposed between the bearing portion 29 and cylindrical member 32 is a worm gear 33 having the worm teeth 34 at the periphery thereof. The gear 33 is provided with a relatively long hub 35 encircling spindle 15. This hub 35 is :adapted to carry a plurality of vertical keys 36 which are slidably received within keyways-37 in the runner spindle, said keys being secured to the gear hiib by suitable fastening elements '38. Disposed above and beneath the worm gear 33 are the ballbearings 39 and 40 respectively-which facilitate rotation thereof and which bearings are held in place by the upwardly projecting flanges 41'and 42' carried by the worm gear 33 and bearing portion 29 respectively. The lower end of the cylindrical member 32 overlaps the vertical flange 41 as indicated at 43.v Encirc'ling the hub .35 abovethe gear 33 and disposed between said'hub and member 32 is a bearing 44 while a .so-called split bearing 45 encircles the hub 35 beneath Ygear 33. I

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, the split bearing 45 consists .of two indentical halves fittingaround hub 35. To secure the split bearing in place and to also facilitate itsremoval there is provided a split holder '46 also constructed of 'two identical halves which fit around the split bearing 45, the two halves of the holder being secured together by bolts or the like 47 which pass'through theears or lugs 48. The holder 46 and'bearing -45 are'inserted upwardly into the bearing portion 29 and the holder is secured to'the supporting framework by screws 49 while the bearing is secured within the holder by screws '50. The holder 46 is also provided-at its lower end with an annular opening or channel 51 for receiving any oil or the like which might pass downwardly around spindle l5 and is further provided with a packing52to prevent this oil "from passing .therebeyond. The oil within the annular channel '51 may be removed therefrom through an opening53. I

For theipurpose of driving the worm gear 33, there is'mounted .upon the supporting column 27 of thesupporting framework a motor 54, the shaft 55 thereof extending .transvefs'ely'wltliin therecess 28 in hub .22 and journaled in the bearings 56 and 57. Asillustrated'in Fig.5, there is carried upon the motor shaft 55 within recess 28 a worm.58 .adaptedto mesh with the teeth .34 of worm gear 33. Upon rotation of'worm'fgear 33' it will be apparentthat the runner spindle I5'will be driven to drive the grinding or polishing runner carried at'the lower end thereof.

Freely mounted upon ihe'upperreduce'd end portion 15a of the runner spindle, 15 is a relatively long sleeve 59 exteriorly'threaded asjclearly shown and keyed against rotation by the pro- ,ofscrewsor the like 66' threaded with-inthe upper .end thereof. Carried by the bearing is a worm gear 67with which meshes .a worm 68 keyed to shaft -69, :said shaft being connected with and driven from a motor 70 supported upon-a platform 71 carried by housing 30. Thus, upon rota- -ably keyed to the upper end of the runner spindle is an inner bearing race 75. Arranged between the inner and outer bearing races are the ballbearings 76. The inner bearing race is held in place by the nuts '77 threaded upon the upper reduced threaded portion 78 of the runner spindle.

Upon'raising of the sleeve 59 by the means above described, the member 72 will be moved therewith to lift the outer and inner bearing races '74 and 75 and the inner bearing race engaging the bottom nut 77 ,will effect the desired raising of the runner spindle.

h The present invention further embodies electrically operated means for'not only raising and lowering the surfacingrunner with respect to the glass, but for also limiting the upward and down ward movement thereof and automatically stopping the same when it reaches a predetermined position. Thus, there is mounted upon the upper end of housing 30 of grindingmachine A, a casing 80 carrying'the upper and lower limit switches 81 and 82 respectively. As shown in Fig. 8,'the upper switch 81 includes .the fixed and movable conacts 83 and 84, the movable contact 84 being carried at'the forward end of a'lever 85 'pivoted-1- intermediate its ends asat 86 and'norma'lly "held in engagement with the fixed conta'ctby means of a spring 87. The lower switch82 is of substantially the same construction and includes the fixed and movable contacts 88 and 89 respectively, the movable contact being carried at the inner end of a' lever 99 .pivoted intermediateits ends as at 91, and normally held in engagement with the fixed contact by a spring'92. Mounted above the upper switch '81 Ba lever 93 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 94, the 'inner'end 95 of said lever being offset from the outer end thereof and positioned within casing 80 in the path of travel of lifting member '72 and'adapted to'be actuated'thereby as will be later more;

specifically described. The lever 93 carries at its rear end aknock-out bolt or the like'86 adapted to engage the outer .end of lever 85 of switch 81. A similar lever .97 is' mountedbeneath the lower switch 82, said lever 97 being pivoted intermediate;

its ends as at 98 and the inner end 99 being offset from the outer endthereof and'lo'cated in the path of travel of lifting member "72 whilethe opposite or outer end carries the knock-out -bolt 'or'.the like'lOO adap,tedto.engage the adjacent end of lever90 of switch 82. p

The numeral 101' designates the main control switch adapted to be positioned within .convenient reach of the operator of themachineand having the'three contacts 102, .103 and 104. The switch 101 also includes the contact fingers 1'05 and 106 'adaptedfor engagement at one time withany two adjacent contacts 102, I03 and 104, said contact fingersfbeing -keyed to a'rotatable shaft 107 and normally maintained in an open or neutral position as shown in Fig. 8 by a tension springlOB. h 7 Leading from the fixedcontact 83 of upper limit switch81 is a wire l09 connected to motor70 while running from the movable contact84 of said switch is a wire 110 connected with'the contact 102 of switch 101'. Leading from the fixed contact 88 of lower limit switch 82 is a wire 111 connected to contact 104 of switch 101 while running from the movable contact 89 of said switch is a wire 112 connected to motor 70. Leading from contact 103 of switch 101 and from the motor 70 are the wires 113 and 114 connected with the positive and negative main lines 115 and 116 respectively.

Upon operation, and assuming that the spindle is in its lowered position as indicated in Fig. 4, the contacts 83 and 84 of upper switch 81 will be maintained in engagement with one another so that this switch is closed and the contacts 88 and 89 of lower switch 82 will also be held in engagement with one another so that this switch is likewise closed. On the other hand, switch 101 will be open. When it is desired to raise the runner spindle, the switch 101 is operated to move the contact fingers 105 and 106 thereof into engagement with contacts 102 and 103 respectively. The electric current will then enter through the positive main 115 and pass successively through wire 113, contact 103, contact fingers 106 and 105, contact 102, and wire 110 to movable contact 84 of switch 81 through fixed contact 83 and wire 109 to motor '70 and then from motor 70 through wire 114 to negative main 116, thus completing the circuit. Upon completion of the circuit, the motor '70 will be driven so as to rotate the bearing 65 and nut 64 in a direction to thread the sleeve 59 upwardly therethrough and thereby effect the desired raising of the. runner spindle. Upon the continued upward movement of the spindle, the lifting member 72 will engage inner end 95 of lever 93 and rock the same about its pivot so that the knock-out bolt 96 engaging outer end of lever 85 of switch 81 will rock the same about its pivot 86 to disengage the movable contact 84 from fixed contact 83 and thus break the circuit through the motor to automatically stop the upward movement of the spindle.

When it is desired to lower the spindle, the contact fingers 105 and 106 of switch 101 are moved to engage contacts 103 and 104 respectively. The electric current will then enter through the positive main 115 and pass successively through wire 113, contact 103, contact fingers 105 and 106, contact 104 and wire 111 to fixed contact 88 of lower switch 82, then through movable contact 89 and wire 112 to motor 70 and from motor 70 through wire 114 to the negative main 116 thereby completing the circuit. When this circuit is completed, the motor 70 will be operated to rotate bearing 65 and nut 64 in the opposite direction to cause the sleeve 59 to be threaded downwardly therethrough and thus effect the lowering of the spindle. When the spindle has been lowered to a predetermined position, the member 72 will engage inner end 99 of lever 97 and rock the same about its pivot 98. The knock-out bolt 100 of lever .97 will then engage outer end of lever 90 of lower switch 82 so as to rock said lever about its pivot 91 to move the movable contact 89 out of engagement with contact 88 and thus break the circuit through the motor to stop the lowering movement of the spindle. Upon lowering of the spindle, the movable contact 84 of upper switch 81 will be moved to engage fixed contact 83 and thus close this switch while the lever 93 will again assume its normal position as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 due to the weight of the inner end 95 thereof so that the apparatus is again made ready for the raising of the runner spindle.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

We claim: 1

In a surfacing machine of the class described, a housing, a vertical runner spindle received within said housing, a non-rotatable but slidable sleeve freely mounted upon the upper end of the spindle and being exteriorly threaded, a bearing encircling the sleeve and having a recess in its upper end, a nut disposed within the recess and being threaded upon said sleeve, said nut being secured to said bearing, a gear carried by the bearing intermediate its ends, a lifting element carried at the upper end of the sleeve above said 115 nut, said element being provided with an annular recess, an outer bearing race disposed within said recess, an inner bearing race also disposed within the recess and slidably keyed to the spindle, ball bearings interposed between the inner 120 and outer bearing races, means for securing the inner bearing race in place upon the spindle, and means for rotating said gear to thread the sleeve upwardly through said nut whereupon the inner bearing race engaging the securing means on the 125 spindle will effect raising of the latter.

' JOHN C. GIPE.

JOSEPH P. CROWLEY. JOHN L. DRAKE. 

